It's back. The Second Annual Humboldt Arts Festival takes over a portion of Arcata Saturday and Sunday, starting at noon. The festival is a "showcase for the arts" -- the organizers use that term broadly, as the festival incorporates visual art galleries, painting, photography and sculpture, as well as performances in music (many genres), dance, circus arts, and more.
"It's all a benefit for the Humboldt Arts Project," said Vico, founder of HAP and the driving force behind the festival. "The idea is to create a space for local emerging artists to share their work, be it visual or performing arts."
HAP has been producing what might be described as mini-arts fests in conjunction with Arts Arcata since November 2009, all with a volunteer staff -- mostly HSU students andrecent grads. "It's like the Ink People, but younger and newer," said Vico, "and while it's a Humboldt thing, it's more specific to Arcata, using the energy here. There are so many artists here."
The annual festival, timed to coincide with HSU's graduation weekend, takes things to a grander scale. "Last year's Humboldt Arts Fest raised enough funds to begin the infrastructure," said Vico. "It paid for printing costs, pedestals for sculptures, things like that. My idea is to turn [HAP] into a sustainable organization, a nonprofit that will keep going so that I'll be able to step back."
What do they have planned for the weekend? Art shows in multiple locations in association with Arts! Arcata (see listings in Muse). Art displays, booths, food, and more filling four blocks including I St. between 9th and 11th and 10th between H and I. Music, dance, clowns, etc. on two outdoor stages and two indoor stages (Humboldt Brews and Jambalaya), plus nighttime shows at both of those venues. Here's the performance schedule:
Saturday
Robert Goodman Wines Main Stage
Noon -- Arcata Arts Institute (high school rock/funk)
12:30 p.m. -- Street Performer Gallery
1 p.m. -- Samba da Alegria (Brazilian drum/dance)
2 p.m. -- Triple Junction (rock)
3:30 p.m. -- Jarabi Africa (drum/dance)
4 p.m. -- Ishi Dube (reggae)
5:30 p.m. -- New World Ballet (modern ballet)
6 p.m. -- Berel Alexander Ensemble (folk-rock)
7:30 p.m. -- Moo-Got-2 (electro-funk)
9 p.m. -- Humboldt Finest Fire Spinners
Hosted by DJ Dub Cowboy
Scoop/Wildwood/Los Bagels Side Stage
1 p.m. -- Freelove Circus
1:30 p.m. -- Fem 5 from Dell'Arte
3 p.m. -- Perico & The Circus Express
3:45 p.m. -- Humboldt VarietyVille
5 p.m. -- SambAmore (Brazilian drum/dance)
6:30 p.m. -- Peace of Mind Orchestra (jam rock)
Jambalaya
1 p.m. -- Guinea Gbe (African drum/dance)
2:30 p.m. -- JUCE (reggae/rock)
4 p.m. -- Arcata Arts Institute
6:30 p.m. -- Strix Vega (alt. rock)
Humboldt Brews
3:30 p.m. -- Todd Krider (guitar)
5 p.m. -- The Lonesome Roses (folk)
6:30 p.m. -- Wet Fez (funk)
H.A.F. Saturday Night After Parties
Jambalaya: The Absynth Quintet (kinetic gypsy-grass) with The Beat Vixens (burlesque)
Humboldt Brews: Humboldt Calypso Band (steel band) The Slippery Society (jazz) Janky Mallets (samba drums)
Both shows start at 10 p.m. $10 at door single venue, $15 at door/$12 adv. for both venues
Sunday
Robert Goodman Wines Main Stage
Noon -- Karmaja Tribal Belly Dance with Marjhani & Moon from Fire & Isis Dance Collective
1:15 p.m. -- Humboldt Hip Hop Hour w/ Area Sound, Humboldt Rockers, Savage Mentality, Green Light Means Go, Mason Bell, Never Die
2:30 p.m. -- Company of African Dance Arcata
3:30 p.m. -- The Small Axe (rock)
4:20 p.m. -- Blue Street Junction (rock)
Hosted by DJ Dub Cowboy
Scoop/Wildwood/Los Bagels Side Stage
12:20 p.m. -- Steven Weven
1 p.m. -- No Limit Tap & Jazz
2:10 p.m. -- Freelove Circus
2:30 p.m. -- Knee High Puppets
3:10 p.m. -- Chakra Hoop Nation (hula hoopers)
4:15 p.m. -- Matthew Cook (songwriter)
The Jambalaya
Noon -- The Trouble (folk-rock)
1:30 p.m. -- Vidagua (world beat)
3 p.m. -- Baki (skater folk)
4 p.m. -- GLOW: A Humboldt Fashion Show with DJ JSun
Humboldt Brews
1 p.m. -- Mo Hollis & Morgan Corviday (folk)
1:30 p.m. -- Tofu Mike (soy folk)
2:30 p.m. -- All Echoes Are Welcome
4 p.m. -- SquarPeg (alt. world/jazz)
Info: www.humboldtartsfestival.com.